Cruise vendors told of delay

By BILL POWER BUSINESS REPORTERPublished February 22, 2013 - 9:12pm Last Updated February 22, 2013 - 9:14pm

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Pavilion construction to continue until August

Cruise ships are tied up in Halifax last October. Construction at the Pavilion 22 cruise ship comples on the waterfront will keep some vendors away until August. (PETER PARSONS / Staff)

About 20 vendors at the Pavilion 22 cruise ship complex on the Halifax waterfront will be unable to open their businesses in the building this May due to construction.

The vendors, who usually have more than 240,000 cruise ship visitors during the May-to-October cruise season, will not be allowed back into their usual digs until August.

“We’ve just heard there will be construction underway in the upper level of the building,” said Michel Levasseur, owner of Carrefour Atlantique Emporium.

“Arrangements are just being worked out.”

Several vendors contacted Friday said they were surprised to hear by telephone messages this week that their anticipated return to Pavilion 22 for the cruise ship season will be delayed by at least three months due to construction.

Few seemed to be worried about the situation.

“They’re not shutting us down or anything,” said Katrina Doucette, owner of Point of View Glass.

“Space will be made available elsewhere for people who want to continue to operate while the construction is underway.”

Levasseur said some vendors may decide to sit out the construction and take advantage of the resulting break in rent.

“This is the early part of the season and involves only about one-third of our sales,” he said of the impact on his business.

Levasseur said the most important thing is the construction will be completed by August, when the cruise ship season really begins to ramp up and peaks in September and October.

Halifax Port Authority spokesperson Natalie Kenrick said options are being discussed with each of the vendors while some renovations to the building are underway.

“Construction will limit our ability to open Pavilion 22 in May,” Kenrick said.

Some of the vendors may opt to relocate temporarily at the north end of the adjacent Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market and return to Pavilion 22 when construction is completed.

“The work will be completed well in advance of the height of the cruise ship season in the fall,” Kenrick said.

Two vessels set to arrive May 6 —Veendam and the Silver Whisper — will signal the beginning of the cruise ship season this year.

Kenrick said about 134 cruise ships are set to call on Halifax from May to October, with an estimated total of more than 240,000 passengers expected to visit the city.